Model 57 Refinish

[planetmobius]

Just picked up a 4" S&W Model 57 in of course .41 mag. It is mechanically great but has a lot of holster wear. In my opinion, a great candidate for a refinish. Have been thinking about brushed hard chrome. Any opinions on this finish or something better?

 

[Barry the Bear]

I would get it reblued by a reputbale company as a blued gun to me should stay blue.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Metalife, NP3+, Cerakote.....

My first choice for the service you may want would be Metalife; www.mahovskysmetalife.com . It has a grey/nickel surface color that's non reflective. The specs are great. Gun-writer & tactics instructor; Chuck Taylor gives it high praise.
A few forum members say it works very well. I like the shop turn-around & the prices. I may get my Glock 21 .45acp upper treated with Metalife for use on security posts. I live & work in hot, humid areas & sometimes near marine/beach environments.

Other top picks include Robar's NP3/NP3 plus, www.robarguns.com . It's not cheap and can take several months to get your firearm back but the process it great. I've owned 02 Beretta 96D .40 pistols with NP3 & Im very impressed with Robar's quality. Scuffs, nicks & holster wear aren't a big problem with NP3.

Rocky Mountain Arms/Bearcoat is a good after market process. It comes in a dull grey, Ti and "stainless" type color. Bearcoat is also a durable, high quality format. Hunting guides, cops & spec ops(snipers) use Bearcoat.

Finally, a new source I'm impressed with but have not purchased is the Cerakote designs from MI's www.blowndeadline.net . The shop offers different Cerakote colors/styles & they can add the new armor-clear process for improved wear/scuff/mar protection. Cerakote shops are now all over the USA, check to see if they warranty the services(like Blowndeadline does ), make sure they are authorized & offer the extra armor-clear process. It's not mandated, but Id want it on my duty weapon or CCW gun.

Rusty
PS; if it's a N frame .41 you might consider Mag-Na-Port porting, then have the gunsmiths add Mag-Na-Port's company surface treatment. See the website for prices & services. I heard & read a few + reviews.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I second re-bluing, but I'd probably leave it alone unless there is very little finish left, especially with a S&W M57. Is it a no dash? As long as it isn't rusted or pitted, honest wear doesn't bother me.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I third re-bluing.

You will give your new piece a new "life" as it where.

Whatever you choose pick a reputable company!

 

[bannockburn]

Well I second hard chrome, especially that done by Ron Mahovsky at Metalife. Extremely long lasting and durable, all of my hard chromed guns have shown zero surface wear with this finish after many years of use.

 

[steveno]

leave it as is. as long as it hasn't been abused it has earned the right to show some wear

 

[planetmobius]

Much of it is honest wear but some appears to be blood splatter of some sort. It has large and small areas of blueing loss that is arranged in circles and "runs" that all have very well defined edges not like normal surface wear. There is a large area at the muzzle, a lot on the cylinder and on one side of the frame. There is no pitting. I d not know the history of this firearm.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Well if you plan on using it thoroughly (would make a great sidearm for hunting or a woods/hiking gun) I would maybe consider getting a chrome finish however use a very well known company for any finish as others have stated.

 

[planetmobius]

Thanks Bear,

you have me reconsidering the reblue. It is a 57 with no dash. pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. Maybe it should stay blue. I'm still undecided.

 

[Waveski]

What we have here is a failure to photograph.

 

[Leanwolf]

PLANETMOBIOUS - "you have me reconsidering the reblue. It is a 57 with no dash. pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. Maybe it should stay blue. I'm still undecided. "

If it were mine and I wanted it refinished, I'd send it to S&W and have them reblue it properly.

Unless you plan on hiking around out in the rain and snow quite often with the 57 in an open holster out in the elements, then not bothering to wipe it off with a clean rag and then with an oily rag, it'll last your lifetime and the lifetime of the recipient after you transfer it. That is so long as you bother to do a slight bit of sensible maintaining after use.

A S&W 57 4" blued is a mighty handsome piece!

L.W.

 

[tallpaul]

I will also say hard chrome... but only if you do not think ya will sell or are willin to take the hit! I have a mint model 29-2 4 inch I would love to hard chrome! In some ways it is better than stainless steel ... if done right!

 

[orionengnr]

I hope I am wrong about this, but...

Sounds from the blood spatter comment that this may have been a suicide gun.
If it were mine, I would not want to contemplate that history each time I took it from the safe. So I would re-finish it in its original blue, either by S&W, or by Fords.

An M57 is a beautiful and somewhat rare example of the S&W art form. One that has been hard chromed (or otherwise plated/painted/etc.) is a lot like a mustachioed Mona Lisa.

 

[TomADC]

Many years ago I built a 1911 from parts used a Essex frame, after shooting it and everything worked good, I sent it off to have it Armorloyed (sp) sort of a light gray finish the more I shot it the better it got, PUT if it was a Smith 57 I would have sent it back to Smith for a refinish.